Joey Molland

Joey Molland

Joseph ("Joey") Charles Molland (born June 21 1947, Liverpool, England) is a composer and rock guitarist whose recording career spans four decades.

Originally a member of small local rock groups, such as The Assassins and The Profiles, Molland's recording career began in 1965 when he joined The Masterminds. This group released a single on Immediate Records IM 005, comprised of a Bob Dylan cover "She Belongs to Me" backed with a band original "Taken My Love." After this group disbanded, Molland joined the backinggroup of The Merseys. Although never recording with the group, Molland accompanied them on tour.

Molland's recording career began in earnest in 1967 when he joined Gary Walker (formerly of the Walker Brothers) for the group "Gary Walker & The Rain." The Rain released several singles, an EP, and an album on the Polydor and Philips labels in the UK and Japan between 1967 and 1969. The album titled #1, which featured four Molland compositions, was especially well received in Japan. But a lack of radio success in their English homebase caused The Rain to disband by 1969.

Molland auditioned for the band Badfinger in November 1969 and was subsequently hired. Badfinger were a conspicuous Apple Records recording group at the time (a label launched by The Beatles). The band enjoyed an early string of successful singles and albums for the next couple of years (see Badfinger article for recording information). During Molland's association with Apple, he made guest appearances on two George Harrison albums, All Things Must Pass and The Concert For Bangla Desh, and the John Lennon album Imagine.

Molland left Badfinger in late 1974 due to disagreements over management. In 1975, he joined with Jerry Shirley (formerly of Humble Pie) and formed a group called Natural Gas. The band released the LP Natural Gas on Private Stock Records in 1976, and enjoyed a successful tour with Peter Frampton the following year. According to Molland, a general lack of organization led to the band's demise late in 1977.

Molland and former Badfinger band mate Tom Evans recorded two albums under the Badfinger name, Airwaves in 1978, and Say No More in 1981. Molland and Evans split acrimoniously after Say No More and the two performed in rival touring Badfinger bands until Evans' death in 1983.

Most of Molland's career since 1983 has been with various groups performing tours under the Badfinger name, or as "Joey Molland's Badfinger." Earlier versions of these groups sometimes included original Badfinger drummer Mike Gibbins.

Molland was instrumental in releasing a 1974 live recording of Badfinger on Rykodisc in 1991, called Day After Day: Live, which received mixed critical reactions due to overdubbing and a rearranged track order. The release also sparked a lawsuit between Molland and former Badfinger members and their families regarding ownership and use of the concert tapes. Molland has also been criticized for his 1995 re-recording of Badfinger's hit songs for CD release. The recordings have since been widely distributed with deceptive packaging, with photos displaying the original 1970s version of the group.

Molland's solo recordings have been relatively sporadic. His first, After The Pearl, was released in 1984 on Earthtone Records. His second, The Pilgrim, was released in 1992 on Rykodisc. His third, This Way Up, was independently released in 2001.

Molland now lives in Minnesota and continues to tour with the Badfinger name.

Discography (with Badfinger, except where noted)

• "She Belongs to Me" (1965 single with "The Masterminds")
• #1 (1969 with "Gary Walker & The Rain")
• No Dice (1970)
• Straight Up (1971)
• Ass (1973)
• Badfinger (1974)
• Wish You Were Here (1974)
• Natural Gas (1976 album by the band Natural Gas)
• Airwaves (1979))
• Say No More (1981)
• After The Pearl (1983 (as Joey Molland)
• The Pilgrim (1992 as Joe Molland)
• This Way Up (2001 as Joe Molland)

Molland also appeared as a guest artist on

• The Concert For Bangla Desh (album)
• All Things Must Pass by George Harrison (album)
• Imagine by John Lennon (album)
• Victory Gardens by John & Mary (album)

Compositions of note

• "Love Is Gonna Come At Last" (Billboard charting #69 by Badfinger)